Arctic blast leaves at least 4 dead; Florida is freezing

Package up! The National Weather Service estimates that more than 250 new cold records can be tied or set in the first half of the week. Accuweather

It was literally freezing in Florida and Alabama as parts of Maine, Michigan and New York dug snow into the foothills as historically early and deadly Arctic air mass grabbed much of the nation.

The recordings, some of which date back more than 100 years, were taken down as the front continued its fierce roll for the third day.

The entire state of Alabama was under freezing warning as temperatures sank into the 20s and below, breaking records in more than 100 places. The National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, citing "widespread significant freezing" for Alabama and Florida Panhandle, called on residents to protect open pipes, keep pets warm, and check neighbors.

In Florida, the average November low temperature in Pensacola is 50 degrees. Wednesday morning was 20 degrees colder.

Also in Florida: Red tide, toxic algae bloom that kills wildlife returns to beaches on the beaches

Record levels were recorded on Wednesday morning from Birmingham, Alabama to Burlington, Vermont. The 18-degree Birmingham level has beaten the 4-degree record it has been since 1911.

New York City and Buffalo, New York, as well as parts of Ohio set records. In Kansas alone, at least six cities, including Wichita, have set cold records for Tuesday's date.

In Missouri, St. Louis dropped to 11 degrees, breaking the record for more than 100 years. [19659012] Autoplay

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Snow in Texas just 60 miles from the Mexican border – and more intense farther north. Parts of Michigan were digging up to 30 inches of snow. Buffalo set records of more than 11 inches. Parts of Maine and Vermont were hit by snow as the system roared on its third day.

"Visibility has dropped only a quarter of a mile at a time … as strong snowshoe effects continue to move through northeast Ohio," AccuWeather meteorologist Derek Witt said.

In Michigan, the Ethan County Sheriff's Office said. that two women, ages 81 and 64, and a 57-year-old man were killed Monday in a two-vehicle crash on snowy, icy roads. In Kansas, a highway patrol reported an 8-year-old girl killed in a three-car wreck

Authorities in Ohio are investigating two fatal cases and snow-covered debris, and a passenger bus crashed into his country in Syracuse, New York, although no serious injuries were reported.

How often do you have to start my car in cold weather? Answer: No [Recordlowswereeverywherewithsingle-digittemperaturesdroppingthroughmuchoftheMidwestwhereDetroitsankto7degreesbreakingarecord12intheday

Kristen Hamilton, who lives in northern Chicago in the Lakeview area, had no problems with the early winter weather

"I'm a Northern California transplanter, so I think it's fantastic to have snow and clear skies and cold time compared to fire and smoke and eclipses, "she said. "I'm very happy with Chicago at 20 degrees."

The drastically colder than normal temperatures extend all the way to the Atlantic coast. Temperatures sank in the low 20s in Atlanta and in Jackson, Mississippi. Similar numbers crossed the East Coast – New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC

Many of these cities often see low temperatures, not very often two weeks before Thanksgiving, AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Royce said.